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You never actually saw them, but I'll wager the Jetsons had webcams. George, Jane, Elroy, Mr. Spacelyeveryone was constantly chatting on big-screen video phones. Sadly, we haven't quite reached that epoch of communication (maybe that's a good thing if you have a boss like Spacely), but that doesn't mean you can't reach out and see someone. Armed with a webcam and the right software or Web service, you can make video phone calls, record video greetings to deliver via e-mail, and even broadcast yourself live to anyone who wants to watch.

What's new in the world of webcams? In a word: megapixels. Three of the five models boast 2-megapixel image sensors, which represents quite a jump over the VGA-resolution 'cams of yesteryear. They also promise still photos of up to 8 megapixels, but don't plan on leaving your digital camera at home if you're traveling with your notebook. Turns out those 8-megapixel snapshots are software-interpolated; the webcams themselves can't capture images beyond their optical limits. And based on my tests, an interpolated photo looks no better than one captured at native resolution. What's more, not one of the webcams with 2-megapixel sensors can actually capture video at that resolution (1,600 by 1,200). In fact, on my test systema Gateway NX570X notebook with a dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and Windows Vistavideo tended to choke at any resolution higher than 800 by 600. I also tested the webcams on a Pentium 4 desktop with a high-end video card, and the results were largely the same.

So what's the point of having a 2-megapixel sensor if most computers lack the horsepower for 2-megapixel video? I asked several vendors this very question and got the same response: Starting with a higher-resolution sensor makes for better lower-resolution video. I'll agree with that, but to me it smacks of false advertising. Even if you have an extremely high-powered system, the webcams' own software often won't let you select the maximum possible resolution. It's a weird and misleading situation for consumers./

Of course, given the limited upstream bandwidth available to most broadband Internet subscribers, this isn't a crucial issue for video calling: You'll be lucky to get smooth video at 640 by 480. The day has not yet arrived when we can all enjoy full-screen, Jetson-style communication.

Of course, even video in a smallish window is fantastic when it stars the people you love. To test these five webcams, I chatted up far-flung friends and relatives using popular video-calling apps such as Skype and SightSpeed. I paid close attention to video and audio quality, of course, but also looked at the webcams' designs: How securely did they mount on desktop and notebook LCDs? Could you rotate the lens to capture the action behind your PC instead of just in front of it? I also checked out the bundled software: Was it easy to use? Could it do more than just capture video clips and still photos?

You might think that a technology as old as the webcam would be almost a commodity by now, but in testing these devices I encountered a lot of differences. My results were spread all the way across the spectrum from shockingly bad to surprisingly good. The capsules that follow are short summaries of the full-length reviews. Click the links to read more, and for a side-by-side comparison,
see the table
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Webcams may feel futuristic, but you need to shop carefully to get one that's more Jetsons than 1984.

Creative Live! Cam Optia AF
Though the Live! Cam Optia AF isn't the image-quality champ, it scores with its fun, practical software bundle. It's the one webcam equipped for more than just videoconferencing.

Envision V-Cam
A lower-than-average price can't rescue this feature-strapped webcam. It doesn't even have a microphone, making it useful for almost zilch. If you're looking for a cheapie, the Hercules costs less and offers more.

Hercules Deluxe Optical Glass
This inexpensive, travel-friendly webcam offers a surprising number of extras, but video quality leaves much to be desired. Still, if it's a cheap camera you're looking for, this is the one.

Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000
Unsurpassed image quality and simple software combine to make this the best webcam you can buy today. At about $100 bucks it's not cheap, but it's well worth the cost.

Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000
Microsoft's high-end webcam delivers midrange performance and features, at a higher-end price. Most users will be happier with competing models from Creative and Logitech.